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7 March 2014

Granny Square Quilt Blocks

What a week! What started out simple enough has turned into sew much more!

Since Monday, I have been working on my very first Granny Square blocks, made from a 20 piece jelly roll of True Colors by Anna Maria Horner for Free Spirit. This yielded 20 blocks. The finished quilt is approximately 33" x 41".

Looks easy enough. How do you make Granny Squares? A quick search of the internet resulted with two basic methods. A strip pieced method and a no waste method. I went with the no waste method, but did one set of blocks according to the strip pieced method for comparison.

Granny Squares Baby Quilt

I would like to pass along some advice, if I may. To learn from someone else's mistakes is usually a good way to go. So I will be sharing an in depth tutorial in the coming week. To share some tips that I wish I would have considered before taking on these Grannies.

Basting the Granny Squares quilt

It wasn't until I had completed making my Granny Squares that I considered just how I would be making them into a quilt.

Backing and Binding

I wanted to keep it baby quilt sized and preferred the look of the Grannies without sashing and in a squared setting.

This was when I realized there was indeed a better way to go about making the blocks.

One in which I could have avoided having to now piece all the sides and attempting to match up all those points.

As you can see, each of the white squares between the blocks is made from two triangles. And where the blocks meet at the corners, the white squares are made from four triangles.

In real estate they say, "Location, location, location!"
In quilting we should always first consider, "Layout, layout, layout!"

Other than fabric selection, the first thing you should take a look at is how you want your blocks to be displayed. Square or On Point? With sashing or without?

If you are considering ever making a Granny Squares quilt, I encourage you to tune in during the coming week. This tutorial will be covering suggestions for fabric selection, show examples of possible layouts, and methods for making Granny Squares according to the layout options.

Do you have any tips you would like to include?
Have you made a Granny Square quilt?
Would you like to share your Granny in this tutorial?
Let me know by leaving a comment!

43 comments:

Beautiful quilt, Lorna! I'm really anxious to read your tutorial ~ I really learn a lot from your insight on what works for you, so THANKS for being there! (p.s. ~ I noticed you used a serpentine stitch in your quilting ~ looks great!)

Your granny squares are beautiful! I made my first ones last year as part of an apron. So, that was a grand total of 3 blocks and they were 6" square. I remember that I should have made the outside triangles a little larger so I could square up the blocks. And you're right, that's a lot of points to match up! I can't wait to see your tips!Julie @ The Crafty Quilter

Hi Lorna, What a beautiful finish! I have made two granny square quilts so far with both of them having sashing between the blocks so lining up the points between the blocks was not so much of an issue. My method for making the blocks was to use the no waste method but to oversize the side and corner triangles so that I had plenty of fabric to trim square.

I love the granny squares, this is my next-to-do quilt after I finish my etchings bed runner for my mom for her birthday...YIKES....better get going...LOL Anyway, this is beautiful, the colors play so nice together and so happy!

It's a beautiful quilt. I especially like that you didn't use sashing. The pink binding is also a winner. I've not made granny squares so I'll be patiently (well not too patiently) waiting to see your tutorial.

I like them butted right up next to each other. Very pretty saturated colors too! This is the first granny square quilt I've seen that has made me stop and consider making one for a minute. Of course it probably helps that I just received some strip discards over the weekend from a hiking buddy. :) Nice work!

Your granny square quilt it so bright and cheery! Love it! I finished making one from vintage sewing scraps (hence, no strip sewing) for my daughter in December 2013. I love it so much I plan to make another one. I had looked at the different methods and settled on the original version and went ahead and wasted fabric. I really enjoyed making the blocks. I would like to make a strip-pieced version using a jelly roll I already have. I'm eager to read your upcoming ideas, tips, tricks, etc. Here is the link to my recently finished granny square quilt ... http://lovepeacequilt.blogspot.ca/2013/12/hannahs-granny-square-legacy-quilt.html

This came out wonderfully and I'm looking forward to your tips. Many years back I made a granny square quilt, from a paper pattern, before the online tutorial rage, and it was a PAIN. It does still have a place of honor on my couch, however...

I too love your quilt. The bright colors are fabulous. I'll be looking forward to your tips post. I have a pile of my grandma's old fabrics that she used for making Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls that I want to use for Granny block to turn into wall hangings for my mom, aunt and uncle.

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